Attachments for fork lift trucks



Nov. 8, 1966 T. VANDER WAL. 3,283,933

ATTACHMENTS FOR FORK LIFT TRUCKS Filed Aug. 14, 1964 INVENTOR. Elf/V75 MANDEE 1449.4.

A rrozA/E Y United States Patent 3,283,933 ATTACHMENTS FOR FORK LIFT TRUCKS Tuenis Vander Wal, 1432 W. Madison St.,

Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Aug. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 389,701 2 Claims. (Cl. 214-620) This invention relates to improvements in attachments for fork lift trucks, and represents an improvement and modification of the invention shown in my previous patent application bearing the Serial Number 293,621, filed July 9, 1963, now Patent No. 3,180,513.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for moving and lifting objects when handled by a fork truck.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of an attachment for fork lift truck embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of a roller and its mountmg.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective from above of the device.

FIG. 4 is an inverted view in perspective of the attachment.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a rectangular base plate has subjoined thereto a pair of channels 11 and 12, transversely disposed under said plate 10 and having rearwardly extending flared portions at 13 and 14 to permit the more easy insertion of the forks 1-5 of a lift truck 16. The frontal ends of the channels 11 and 12 at 17 protrude seven-eighths of an inch beyond the hinge line 18, whereby the tilt plate 19, hinged at 20 to the base plate 10 is restricted to a vertical position when it tilts by impingement against said frontal ends 17 of the channels 11 and 12.

The base plate 10 is provided with an eye 21 and a chain 22 which is attached to the truck 16 to prevent complete withdrawal of the forks from the channels 11 and 12 during deposit operations.

The tilt plate 19 is provided with a pair of inclined slanted elements 23 fixed on their outsides to spacers 2 fixed to tilt plate 1.9. The inclined elements 23 are fronted by the triangular plates 25, and each element 23 has at the rear thereof, an inclined roller 26. Hinges 27, 28 and 29 connect the base plate 10 and the tilt plate 19. In use, the device is especially suited to pick up and deposit long narrow boxes or crates, or long narice row bundles of rods which can be balanced on plate 19 and roller 26 laterally of the lift truck. The long bundle of rods, for example, is approached from one end, and the front edge of plate 19 is forced thereunder adjoining one side of plate 19 or adjacent one of the inclined elements 23. The truck is moved fonwardly until the end of the rods bundle rides over the roller 26. It is then easy to run the truck forwardly until the bundle is centrally balanced on the roller, laterally of the truck 16. The inclined member 23 tends to prevent the bundlefrom falling off of plate 19, as does the inclination of roller 26. The inclined triangular plates 25 smooth the way of a load from the plate 19 to the element 23.

It will be understood that the device is capable of many modifications in structure and design, Without departing from the spirit of the invention, within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, desired to be obtained by Letters Patents of the United States is:

1. An attachment for fork lift trucks, comprising a rectangular base plate, a pair of fork-receiving channels subjoined thereto, outwardly flared after ends on said channels to facilitate easy entry of lift forks, a tilt plate carried on said base plate and \hinged thereto, a pair of elongated inclined side elements marginally arranged on said tilt plate, and a pair of rollers rotatably mounted adjacent the after ends of said inclined side elements.

2. An attachment for fork lift trucks, comprising a rectangular base plate, flared fork receiving channels subjoined thereto, a tilt plate carried over said base plate and hinged thereto, a pair of elongated inclined side elements marginally arranged on said tilt plate, and a pair of rollers of like inclination each rotatably mounted adjacent the after ends of said inclined side elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,482,692 9/1949 Quales et al 214-620 2,582,759 1/1952 Sass 2l4-620 2,670,865 3/1954 Merrick 21462O 2,738,222 3/1956 Needham 2l4620 X 2,764,307 9/ 1956 Kughler 21462O GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

R. B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ATTACHMENT FOR FORK LIFT TRUCKS, COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR BASE PLATE, A PAIR OF FORK-RECEIVING CHANNELS SUBJOINED THERETO, OUTWARDLY FLARED AFTER ENDS ON SAID CHANNELS TO FACILITATE EASY ENTRY OF LIFT FORKS, A TILT PLATE CARRIED ON SAID BASE PLATE AND HINGED THERETO, A PAIR OF ELONGATED INCLINED SIDE ELEMENTS MARGINALLY ARRANGED ON SAID TILT PLATE, AND A PAIR OF ROLLERS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT THE AFTER ENDS OF SAID INCLINED SIDE ELEMENTS. 